Where and how to buy Sugar Gliders

Aku sangat recommend korang beli suggie dari orang Malaysia yang ade knowledge dalam suggie ni. Atleast korang akan ada orang untuk nak tanya apa-apa soalan lepas beli. Korang juga boleh jumpa suggie kat petshop dalam Malaysia ni, but please, make sure petshop tu knowledgeable in suggie. Memang banyak petshop yang ada jual suggie, tapi mereka tak tau pun care nak jaga n pemakanan suggie ni. Never try to save a sugar glider from a pet shop or irresponsible breeder by buying the animal, as this will only encourage them.

Rajin-rajinkan lah bertanya kat tempat korang nak beli tu soalan, contoh :-

Dah berapa lama korang dalam bisnes ni?
Ada guarantee tak kesihatan suggie ni?
Diorang offer tak "after-sale" support?
Diorang ada references tak?

Korang juga kene expect soalan akan diberi kat korang juga. As a good breeder, diorang akan make sure suggie ni pergi kat rumah and tuan yang baik. Ramai yang nak sangat dengan si comel ni tapi langsung tak buat yang terbaik untuk suggie, &^#@ la.

Bila korang dah ready and dah tiba masa untuk start bela suggie ni. Aku recommend dapatkan baby suggie yang berumur 8-10 minggu out of pouch. JANGAN beli suggie yang kurang 8 minggu. Pilih suggie yang mata cerah and berbulu ekor lebat, suggie macam ni la yang dah ready untuk hidup sendiri. Make sure baby suggie or joey ni dah makan macam dewasa and dah berhenti menyusu. Korang nak suggie yang active, alert, and curious in nature. Be sure that tahi mereka formed properly, and looks similar to moist mouse droppings. Kalau boleh korang mintak untuk pegang suggie tu dulu, selalunya diorang takkan act takut bila org nak pegang, and run at the first chance it gets. Every sugar glider is different. Ada yang malu dengan stranger. Kalau kes macam ni, korang tengok je cara breeder/owner handle suggie tu. If glider tu takot and nak lari dari breeder/owner tu, tanya je soalan, bambu dia! Try to keep in mind that even gliders can have a bad day, but be aware of the sugar gliders temperament.

Where to take caution when getting your sugar glider :

Pet Stores
Avoid purchasing sugar gliders from pet stores. Sugar gliders ni kan nocturnal animals. Semua pet store tutup time malam and mase suggie ni tengah active and nak attention. Pet store adalah tempat yang bising, and busy with many different sounds and smells so buat suggie stress. Kebanyakan pet store memang tahu macam mana nak jaga suggie. Tapi diorang selalunya akan simplify diet-diet suggie ni and bagi info-info yang tak tepat kat new owner. So hati hati la dengan pet store, be sure to ask questions. Test them on their knowledge, and then decide.

Glider Mills
These are sad places where sugar gliders are kept in the poorest conditions. Little is thought of their care, health, or well being. Animals coming from these places can be sick, and carry several different illnesses.


A ) One or Two ?

Suggie ni sangat bersosial so aku recommend korang bela satu pair. Suggie yang lonely boleh over groom, or even self mutilate. Please understand that loneliness is NOT the only possible cause of a sugar glider that is self mutilating. Kalau korang experience suggie yang self mutilating, jumpa knowledgeable vet ASAP. Suggie yang lonely and depress jugak akan buat diorang stop makan and "loose the will to live". Although these are extreme cases, it is something a responsible sugar glider owner must take into consideration and be prepared for.

Ada suggie yang ok hidup lonely to diorang prone to obesity and boredom. While you are a great "friend" and "playmate" for your sugar glider, you can't play, wrestle, and communicate like another sugar glider would. People are not usually nocturnal like sugar gliders. They will need someone to play and interact with in the wee hours of the morning, and a warm body to cuddle up to while they are asleep in their cage. From the lack of playing and stimulation that another sugar glider can provide, some sugar gliders may over eat and become obese. Of course there have been a select few cases where a sugar glider really was just fine being the only glider, but that is truly rare. Any sugar glider that is housed alone needs to be watched carefully to ensure the animals health and happiness remain intact. We do not recommend sugar gliders to be housed alone long term.

However, for first-timer to handle two unbonded sugar gliders is a bit tough and messy. We encourage newbie to get one FIRST, cope up with the first sugar glider's behavior, sounds, and bonded with it then proceed to the second one.

B ) Boy or Girl ?

What sex makes a better pet ?

Overall there are no relation to sex and temperament in sugar gliders. Males and females can be equally calm, loving, and bonded. Just like people, each sugar glider has a different personality. It is recommended when looking for a pet, to meet them in person before adoption. This will ensure that the sugar glider’s personality fits yours.

Tell me a little about the males :
Males have scent glands located on their neck, chest, anus, and forehead, used to mark their territory. The smell is faint and hardly noticeable when the glider is in a clean habitat, on a good diet, and in good health. Intact adult males can be identified by the presence of a bald spot, on it's forehead, and the chest gland can also be seen. Males neutered before puberty, do not develop the scent glands responsible for the bald spots. Adult males will loose their bald spots upon neutering, as their scent glands will become inactive. The male sugar glider has a bifurcated penis which means it is divided in two. The penis is thin, long, and pink. Often times new owners will mistake their penis for a worm, or intestine. Males can be identified by the presence of a scrotum that has the appearance of a wart where you would expect a belly button to be. Males will reach sexual mature between 4 to 12 months of age depending on genetics, diet, and care. The development of the bald spots caused by active scent glands is a sign the male has reached sexual maturity.

Tell me a little about the females :
Females can be identified by the pouch opening on her abdomen. The pouch opening is viewed as a vertical slit where you would expect to see a belly button. Females will mature between 6 to 18 months of age, depending on her conditions, genetics, and diet. The younger the female, the higher risk of neglected babies. Female sugar gliders have 2 separate vaginae and cervixes and a divided uterus Female sugar gliders cycle about once every 29 days. Pregnancy for a female lasts between 15-17 days. Upon giving birth, the babies move up into the pouch where they will remain the next 60-70 days. Females will usually breed until they are between 5-8 years of age. Some may breed longer. Females normally have 1 to 2 babies at a time. It is possible for a female to have up to 4 joeys in the pouch at a time. A female’s milk changes often during the developmental stages of the baby in the pouch. Female sugar gliders are able to maintain babies of different developmental stages. Each milk gland works individually and is able to change and support each baby at their stage of development.